PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bubba Rugowski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ghoul Ghotha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bubba Rugowski has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Rugowski
vs
Ghotha

225 cm
32
277 lbs
20 - 11 - 0

207 cm
34
272 lbs
26 - 26 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

RMC - $ 11 Shorts!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bubba Rugowski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 26 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ghoul Ghotha!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Paulo Santos and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ghotha looking to score a takedown here. Rugowski is defending well but Ghotha drives through and ends up in Rugowski's guard.
Rugowski keeping moving, preventing Ghotha from controlling successfully.
Rugowski utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ghotha wants to pass the guard but Rugowski is keeping the position.
Rugowski preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ghotha trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ghotha postures up in Rugowski's guard and throws a big left but Rugowski blocks it.
Ghotha in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ghotha postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ghotha tries to free his leg and advance position but Rugowski is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rugowski keeping moving, preventing Ghotha from controlling successfully.
Ghotha working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ghotha has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ghotha trying to control but Rugowski is working from the bottom.
Ghotha connects with a couple of short punches.
Rugowski will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Ghotha throwing strikes from guard but Rugowski blocks nicely.
Ghotha with a flurry of punches that miss.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ghotha trying to control but Rugowski is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ghotha drops back, looking for a kneebar! Rugowski looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Rugowski looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Rugowski!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Ghotha tries to improve position but can't.
Ghotha is trying to control Rugowski's posture but Rugowski avoids it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ghotha manages to get back to half guard.
Rugowski is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Ghotha!
Ghotha is trying to escape the mount.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Rugowski stands up from mount. Strange move.
Rugowski fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rugowski misses with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ghotha changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rugowski looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Ghotha working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Ghotha is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rugowski knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Rugowski wants to control but Ghotha postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ghotha throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Rugowski wants to control but Ghotha postures up.
Ghotha working the strikes but Rugowski uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Ghotha missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Ghotha throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Ghotha missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Ghotha thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rugowski's head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ghotha thows a huge punch but Rugowski dodges it nicely.
Ghotha throwing shots but Rugowski is blocking nicely.
Nice strikes from Ghotha there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ghoul Ghotha dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Decent striking displayed by Rugowski there.
Rugowski lands a high kick!

It looks like Ghoul Ghotha has been cut.
Rugowski really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Ghotha throws a head kick that misses
and Rugowski counters with a head kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rugowski tries a head kick but it misses.
Ghotha tries for a takedown but Rugowski circles away easily
and Rugowski counters with a stiff right hand.
Ghotha avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rugowski defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Ghotha.
Ghotha throws a sloppy head kick and Rugowski moves out of range easily.
Ghotha throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ghotha lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rugowski circles away quickly and effectively.
Ghotha shoots in for a double leg but Rugowski sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Bubba Rugowski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ghoul Ghotha.
Rugowski connects with a looping right hand.
Bubba Rugowski is winning the standup battle so far.
A head kick misses from Rugowski.
Ghoul Ghotha is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ghotha shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rugowski as he avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A combination from Rugowski does no damage.

Rugowski clinches.

Rugowski manages to break the clinch.
Rugowski paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
A head kick misses from Rugowski.
A slow jab from Rugowski misses its intended target.
Rugowski looks to land a combination but Ghotha avoids it well.
Nice sprawl there from Rugowski as Ghotha shoots in.
Ghotha fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rugowski throws a sloppy head kick and Ghotha moves out of range easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ghotha is defended easily by Rugowski.
Rugowski lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ghotha dives in and grabs Rugowski's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rugowski pushes down on Ghotha's head and hops out.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ghotha avoids the head kick by Rugowski.
Ghotha shoots in but Rugowski avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Ghotha is breathing heavily.
Ghotha with a lazy takedown attempt
and Rugowski cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rugowski lands with a slapping head kick.
Rugowski tries to clinch there but Ghotha circles away.
Rugowski lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Rugowski is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
A head kick from Rugowski lands but Ghotha takes it in his stride.
Rugowski lands a body shot.
Rugowski scores with a jab to the jaw.
Rugowski is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Rugowski moves in looking to clinch but Ghotha pushes him off.
Rugowski is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ghotha.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ghotha takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Ghotha shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rugowski defends it nicely.
Rugowski keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Rugowski gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Rugowski lands a nice uppercut.

Rugowski breaks the clinch.
Rugowski moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

Rugowski gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rugowski lands a body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rugowski lands an uppercut.

Rugowski breaks from the clinch.
Rugowski looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ghotha blocks a head kick by Rugowski.
Rugowski smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Ghotha fails with a takedown attempt.
A decent looking cross lands there for Rugowski.
Ghotha looks for a takedown but Rugowski sprawls well.
Rugowski throws a nice head kick!
Rugowski connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rugowski connects with a looping right hand.
Ghotha shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rugowski sprawls well. Rugowski wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Ghotha gets slowly back to his feet.

Rugowski lands a big head kick that sends Ghotha tumbling to the mat! Rugowski takes a step backwards and waves Ghotha back to his feet - he wants the finish!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bubba Rugowski dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ghoul Ghotha's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Rugowski lands a jab to the head.
Rugowski getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Rugowski defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Ghotha.

Ghotha shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Ghotha showed some decent athleticism there.
Ghotha thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rugowski's head.
Rugowski is staying active underneath Ghotha, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Rugowski avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ghotha.
Ghotha thows a huge punch but Rugowski dodges it nicely.
Ghotha not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ghotha working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Rugowski's thigh. Rugowski counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Rugowski preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ghotha throwing strikes but missing.
Ghotha trying to control the position from guard on top but Rugowski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ghotha throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ghotha throws a strike but Rugowski rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Ghotha escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rugowski gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Ghotha bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rugowski's guard.
Ghotha throws a strike but Rugowski rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Ghotha wants to sweep here but Rugowski controlling him for the moment.
Ghoul Ghotha has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ghotha keeping full guard, as Rugowski tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rugowski wants to control from the top but Ghotha keeps moving.

Ghotha escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rugowski gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rugowski controls from within his opponent's guard.
Ghotha manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rugowski manages to get himself to full guard.
Ghotha trying to control the position from guard on top but Rugowski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rugowski seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ghotha postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Rugowski is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ghotha throws a strike but Rugowski rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Rugowski seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rugowski wants to get up but he can't break Ghotha's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ghoul Ghotha comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ghotha has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:28
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:29
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:28

The fight is ruled a majority draw!